[InKunming-Kunming] The 2019 South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair(SSACEIF) opened in the morning of June 12 in Kunming, Yunnan Province.

It is held from June 12 to 15 in Kunming, aiming for promoting stronger cooperation between Yunnan, China and South and Southeast Asian countries. 

Yunnan officials said that the South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair will highlight Yunnan's key role in the Belt and Road Initiative by showing new efforts in opening-up and trade and investment facilitation.

Ruan Chengfa, governor of Yunnan, said on Monday that the BRI has opened up a new space for the world's economic growth. It has done this by "creating a new platform for international trade and investment and providing new practices for improving global economic governance," he said.

The governor said Yunnan is an important part of the BRI, standing at the core of several regional cooperation programs between China and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

"We hope to join hands with all parties to make every effort in promoting the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and China-Laos Economic Corridor," Ruan said, citing the regional cooperation programs, in which Yunnan is involved.

Zhang Guohua, vice-governor of Yunnan and head of the executive committee of the event, said the expo is a step that Yunnan took to serve and join the Belt and Road Initiative.

"As an important hub of the BRI, Yunnan will use the event to boost international trade, show its improving investment environment and help local enterprises go global," Zhang said.

Representatives from more than 3,300 enterprises in 74 countries and regions, China's 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, as well as deputies of international organizations have attended the expo, according to the event's organizing committee.Among those enterprises, nearly half are from overseas, including 20 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.

Sri Lanka serves as the theme country, while Cambodia is the guest country of honor. Special exhibition areas are designated for the honored countries at this year’s trade fair.A total of 14 high-end forums are staged in Kunming during the 2019 SSACEIF: the 2nd China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, the 17th ASEAN Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference, the 8th Yunnan-Taiwan Economic Trade and Cultural Conference, the 14th China-South Asia Business Forum, the 3rd China-Southeast Asia Business Forum, the 7th China-South and Southeast Asia Think-Tank Forum, and others. 

With the theme of "Gathering in the forefront and co-building a powerhouse of opening-up for common development," the SSACEIF covers an exhibition area of 170,000 square meters. Around 7,500 booths were set up in 17 pavilions at this year's trade fair, including the Pavilion of Green Energy, the Pavilion of Green Food, the Pavilion of Biomedicine and General Health, the Pavilion of Culture and Tourism, the Southeast Asia Pavilion, the South Asia Pavilion, the Pavilion of Other Countries, the Taiwan Pavilion, the Pavilion of B&R Investment and Cooperation, and others.

Yunnan province is now playing an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative with improved connectivity and strengthened economic and cultural cooperation with neighboring regions.

The province has three cross-border economic cooperation zones, nine border cooperation zones and 25 land ports to conduct trade and investment with its neighbors.(Editors: Cathy Chen, Rachel)